USRF Grants The First 2026 Graham Downes International Scholarship at Hartpury College
Congratulations! Graham Downes International Rugby Scholarship at Hartpury College Recipient
The U.S. Rugby Foundation is pleased to announce it has granted one Graham Downes International Rugby Scholarship at Hartpury College to London Key of Charlotte, NC.
London will spend her junior year of high school, from September 2026 through May 2027, attending Hartpury College. Hartpury College is a high school in Hartpury, England, which offers a unique, even by English standards, top tier track of elective rugby courses at their Rugby Academy as part of their already competitive program of academic courses.
The goal of the USRF's Hartpury College program is to advance the personal, cultural, and academic development of the scholar athlete while providing her an opportunity to become a better rugby player and then to use this unique rugby experience in the English countryside to influence and elevate the play of their teammates when they get home.
The scholarship is awarded to exceptional scholar-athletes who demonstrate academic excellence, maturity, superior athletic ability, high-level rugby performance, and a strong potential for growth, leadership and character development.
London Key is a 16 year-old who has just completed her sophomore year enrolled in honors classes at Socrates Academy, a Greek Charter School, in Matthews, NC. She is captain of the 'Roonies', the U19 team at her primary club, the Charlotte Cardinals where she is known as a crashing center. London also plays for the Panther Rugby Academy, the NC All-Stars and the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA). At age 13, she was a starter for the U18 Roonies at Nationals where they finished 4th. With the Panthers, she won back-to-back Tropical 7s titles at U14 and U16 Elite. With EIRA, she was selected to play on the Ireland Tour in 2025 and will return to play again in 2026. She is also part of the USA Rugby U18 Pathways Program. London has attended coaching clinics and camps at Princeton, Queens, Haka and USA Rugby and has been coached by Naya Tapper, the USA 7s Olympic Bronze Medalist.
A former multi-sport athlete, London played basketball, lacrosse and soccer before dedicating herself to rugby. London is an American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard who trained along the Jersey Shore. She spends summers there and is an avid surfer. London is also involved in community volunteering through several non-profit organizations.
Hartpury College
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Founded in 1948, Hartpury College is set on a stunning 360-hectare (890 acres in U.S. parlance) campus in the picturesque English countryside, providing an exceptional environment for learning, training, and personal development. It has been rated Ofsted Outstanding in all areas, highlighting its commitment to delivering the highest standards of education and care. The campus is in the charming village of Hartpury, just 20 minutes from Gloucester's historic city center and two hours from London.
Hartpury gained university status in 2018 and has since grown into a leading provider of both further and higher education. Across both College and University, Hartpury today welcomes 4,500 students from over 55 countries, creating a vibrant and international learning community. Hartpury College, the secondary school (or "high school" in U.S. terminology) is today a three year co-ed boarding school with 2,500 students, about 1,700 boys and 800 girls, ranging in age from 16 to 18. Over 20% of the College students play rugby, 380 boys and 160 girls.
Hartpury's Rugby Academy
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The academy creates a women's rugby environment that rivals the professionalism of top-tier clubs. There is a track record of honing player skills while equipping them for a future beyond the rugby field. The coaches are deeply committed to supporting young women in achieving excellence in both their academic pursuits and their rugby career. The program has nurtured over 40 England u20's and countless senior England internationals. Of the 23 player squad that won the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, 15 came through the Hartpury College Rugby Academy.
The Hartpury College Women's Rugby Academy recently showcased their dominance by securing five national titles. They emerged as winners in the Association of Colleges National League, the Continental Tyres Schools Cup, the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) National League, the BUCS National Championship, and the BUCS 7s National Championship.
On March 19th, 2026, Hartpury College secured, for the fifth time in the past six years, the RFU Academic Colleges & Education (ACE) Girls League Title in this season's final at Twickenham Stadium, in a dominant display winning 43-5.
Selection Committee Perspectives
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Lewis Arnold is the Women's ACE Head Rugby Coach and Rugby Academy Manager at Hartpury College. Lewis, a member of the Selection Committee, noted "It is a great privilege and opportunity for Hartpury College to partner with the U.S. Rugby Foundation. Having this opportunity to work with the Foundation and sharing the women's rugby pathway we have developed here at Hartpury College with aspiring young American rugby players is something the Hartpury College coaching staff has very much welcomed. The college is renowned for producing elite rugby players, and we look forward to working with the USRF scholars who want to play rugby at the highest levels."
Martha Daines is the Head of Player Systems and Development – Women, USA Rugby. Martha, a member of the Selection Committee noted: "The Hartpury College Scholarship offers high school girls the chance to excel in both academics and rugby. It provides access to top education and competition, helping student-athletes become leaders and connecting American rugby with England's rich tradition. For dedicated young women, training at Hartpury College is an ideal foundation, especially for those aiming to compete for USA's women's pathway and national teams."
Susan Whitwell is Head Coach USA U18, Women, USA Rugby. A member of the Selection Committee, Susan noted: "This scholarship opportunity at Hartpury College offers an incredible chance for an up-and-coming American high school girl to expand both their academic and rugby horizons at one of England's top rugby schools, in the home of the sport itself. This once-in-a-lifetime experience provides access to high-level training and competition while immersed in the culture of rugby-rich England. Meeting new friends from around the world and having a chance for athletic and academic growth will be an unforgettable adventure."
Salty Thompson, Founder and Director of the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), added: "The Hartpury College Scholarship for Girls, sponsored by the US Rugby Foundation, has the potential, similar to the Foundation's Nelson College Scholarship on the boy's side has, to have a life changing impact on the lives of our young girls who get selected. These players can dramatically improve their rugby while also experiencing an English education, participating in their culture and making long lasting friendships."
Friends of Hartpury College
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The USRF Hartpury College Rugby Scholarships are funded solely by the generous contributions of the "Friends of Hartpury College", a dedicated group of like-minded USRF donors who recognize the unquantifiable life-changing impact of playing in a top-tier rugby country like England.
Starting this year, The Graham Downes Fund has enthusiastically agreed to become a "Friend of Hartpury College" and, as such, has generously agreed to provide funding toward this scholarship.
A heartfelt "thank you" to the Graham Downes Fund and all the other "Friends of Hartpury College" for making this experience possible for this year's scholarship recipient!
